Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

BBC: Northern Ireland

Baroness Hoey: To ask Her Majesty's Government how individuals in Northern Ireland canexpress their viewson the BBC’s outputpending the appointment of the BBC Member for Northern Ireland to the BBC Board.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The best way for audiences in Northern Ireland, and in all parts of the UK, to express their views on the BBC’s output is to contact the BBC directly. This is not affected by the current vacancy of a Board member for Northern Ireland.The BBC’s website sets out the routes through which members of the public can contact the BBC to raise issues or complaints, or provide feedback. More information can be found on the BBC website.

Department for Transport

Air Traffic Control: Storms

Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill: To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) what assessment they have made, if any, of the decision by Air Traffic Controllers at Luton Airport to continue flights into the airport during a red storm warning across London and the South-East and (2) what plans they have, if any, to issue new guidance to Air Traffic Controllers to ensure the safety of passengers on flights happening during storm periods.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Air traffic control services in the UK are highly regulated. The effects of strong winds, and other weather events which may have a potential impact on passenger flights, are well understood and reviewed on a regular basis. Information relating to weather (wind speed & direction/ snow and ice/visibility etc.) is constantly available to pilots planning an approach to land at an airport. This provides them with the necessary information on which they can base their judgement as to whether it is safe to continue with the approach or not. The commander of the aircraft and the airline are entirely responsible for making these judgments, based on the conditions that exist at any particular time. Aircraft and airlines have operational limitations that stipulate maximum winds (including crosswind components and associated gusts) that are acceptable. Crew are trained for approaches in such adverse weather conditions and will abort any landing where they believe continuing the approach will be unsafe or if the wind limits are exceeded. The Civil Aviation Authority’s ongoing review of standards suggests that the limitations and training, together with pilot performance, meant that safety barriers were maintained during storm Eunice.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Africa: Military Coups

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the causes underlying the increase in military takeovers in Africa in the past year, in particular in (1) Chad, (2) Guinea, (3) Sudan, (4) Mali, and (5) Burkina Faso; and what steps they intend to take in response through their(a) foreign, and (b) aid, policies.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We are concerned by the deteriorating situation across the Sahel and the impact on regional security. We joined the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union, and international partners to condemn the coups in Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali. We call for the return to democratic, civilian and constitutional rule without delay. In a meeting with ECOWAS President, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, on 22 February, the Minister for Africa set out the UK's continued support for ECOWAS' mediation efforts. In Chad, we condemned the killing of President Idriss Deby in April 2021, and are working with the African Union to support a return to civilian and constitutional rule.We also condemned the actions of the Sudanese military in October 2021 and issued statements alongside Troika (UK, Norway, US) and quad (UK, US, Saudi Arabia, UAE) partners. We urge all political actors to engage in UN-facilitated dialogue to end the crisis and engage with all parties to demonstrate support for the democratic transition.

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of violence and intimidation of opposition politicians, their supporters, and trade unions, ahead of parliamentary and local by-elections in Zimbabweon 26 March; and what steps they are taking in response.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK remains concerned by the human rights situation in Zimbabwe. This includes a lack of accountability for human rights violations, including those responsible for the death of protestors in August 2018 and January 2019, at the hands of the security forces. We are also aware of recent reports of police brutality and efforts to frustrate the opposition's right to free assembly. While the UK welcomes steps to legislate for an Independent Complaints Commission, the test will be its ability to act independently and effectively.We have been clear that we want to see the Government of Zimbabwe meet its international and domestic obligations by respecting the rule of law and safeguarding human rights. The Minister for Africa emphasised these messages when she spoke to President Mnangagwa on 1 November 2021 at COP26. Alongside significant development assistance to help ordinary Zimbabweans, we continue to support civil society organisations focused on human rights. On 1 February 2021, the UK imposed sanctions on four security officials responsible for some of Zimbabwe's worst human rights violations under the current regime. Our sanctions do not target, and seek to avoid impact on, the wider economy and people of Zimbabwe.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Housing

Lord German: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many housing units will be managed under the Armed Forces Future Defence Infrastructure Services Contract which commences on 1 April.

Baroness Goldie: As of 22 February 2022, it is anticipated that a total of 46,687 Service Family Accommodation (SFA) will be managed under the Future Defence Infrastructure Services Accommodation contracts.

Cabinet Office

Royal Family

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the role of Counsellors of State; who are the present holders of this office; under what legislation they operate; and how the current office holders can be changed.

Lord True: Section 6 of the Regency Act 1937 provides for a power to delegate Royal functions to Counsellors of State in the event of the Sovereign being either overseas, or intended to be overseas, or in the event of illness (stopping short of incapacity). The Regency Act itself specifies that the Counsellors of State shall be the wife or husband of the Sovereign (if the Sovereign is married), and the four persons who are next in the line of succession to the Crown. Changes to the list of those who can be appointed as Counsellors of State would require amending the Regency Act.

Government Departments: CCTV

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many surveillance technology cameras in government departments have facial recognition software; andwhether they have made any assessment of the cost of removing Hikivision and other Chinese-made surveillance technology cameras from government buildings.

Lord True: As has been the case under successive administrations, it is not government policy to comment on the security arrangements of government buildings. Specific details regarding the capability and use of security systems by government departments are withheld on national security grounds.

Government Departments: Disclosure of Information

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made ofthe consequences of not storing information centrally on Non-Disclosure Agreements agreed across Government; and what plans they have,if any, to make such information centrally available.

Lord True: Full information on the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements is held by individual departments. However, in line with the requirements set out in the Cabinet Office guidance on the use of confidentiality clauses in the Civil Service, departments are required to seek Cabinet Office Ministerial approval before using certain confidentiality clauses in a settlement agreement and to report certain information centrally on an annual basis. This is to ensure that such clauses are not used to prevent staff from raising or discussing allegations of bullying, harassment or discrimination, which the Government has made clear is unacceptable.There are no plans to publish the data collected centrally as much of this information is sensitive and publishing it would not satisfy UK GDPR requirements.

Government Departments: Cost Effectiveness

Lord Rogan: To ask Her Majesty's Government which minister is responsible for efficiency and transformation, following the resignation of Lord Agnew of Oulton on 24 January.

Lord True: The Rt Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg MP was appointed Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency, in the Cabinet Office, on 8 February. He will be responsible for realising the opportunities arising from Brexit and increasing the efficiency of government.A full list of ministerial responsibilities will be published in due course.

History: Publications

Lord Lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government what work they are undertaking under their Official History Programme; and when they intend to publish it.

Lord True: Volumes 4 and 5 of the Official History of the Criminal Justice system and volume 2 of the Official History of the Joint Intelligence Committee will be published in due course.